Bathtub seat



March 16, 1954 J, 5, TRONIC BATHTUB SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1951 INVENTOR. JAMES STRONIC.

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March 16, 1954 J. s. momc 2,671,908"

BATHTUB SEAT Filed Aug. 14, 1951 2 Sheets -Sheet 2 JNVET HJR.

JAMES S. TRONIC.

Patented Mar. 16, 1954 BATHTUB SEAT James S. Tronic, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Estee Manufacturing Co., Inc., Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 14, 1951, Serial No. 241,733

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a seat to be detachably supported at a desired elevation in a bathtub, for the increased safety and convenience of the user.

It is the general object of my invention to provide a bathtub seat of improved, sturdy and reliable construction.

A further object is to provide a seat which may be quickly and easily adjusted for different widths of tub or for changing the elevation of the seat.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a bathtub with my improved seat installed therein;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the seat member, with the side bars shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an end member and side bar;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of certain parts;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 55 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a tub B of usual commercial construction and having inner side walls l0 which are inclined downward and inward at a significant angle.

My improved bathtub seat comprises a seat member and two end members 22. The seat member 29 is preferably formed of sheet steel and with the longitudinal edge portions 24 bent downward and inward to provide guides for the side bars 26. The seat member 20 may be made in two longitudinal parts having associated flanges 23 (Fig. 3) welded together for increased stiffness.

Each end member 22 has two side bars 26 pivoted thereto at 27 and each side bar is provided with a plurality of holes 28. Screws 30 extend through holes in the edge portions 24 of the seat member 20, and the screws 30 are inserted into selected holes 28 in the side bars 26 and are secured by nuts 3!.

The end members 22 can thus be firmly and reliably secured to the seat member 20 and in such spaced relation that the end members 22 will engage the sides !0 of the bathtub at a desired height above the bottom thereof.

The members 22 are preferably provided with outer layers of rubber or rubberized fabric or other suitale material having friction and cushion qualities.

The end members 22, being pivoted at 27, readily adapt themselves to the exact angles of the sides 10 and firmly support the seat member 20. If a lower position is desired, the screws 2 39 at one or both ends of the seat member 20 may be removed, and the side bars 26 pushed inward to bring another hole 28 in alignment with each screw 30.

A stiffening member 44 extends lengthwise of the seat member 20 and may have the flanged section shown in Fig. 3. These parts are usually welded to each other and the stiffness of the seat member is thereby largely increased. The flanges 24 at the outer longitudinal edges of the seat member 20 also serve to increase the stiffness, as do also the welded flanges 23 previously described.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a bathtub seat having a seat member and relatively adjustable pivoted end members, that improvement which comprises a two-piece structure for said seat member, with each piece extending longitudinally and having a longitudinal channel at one edge and a longitudinal flange at the other edge, and with said flanges abutting and permanently secured together, and said end members having side bars slidable in said channels, and means being provided to secure said side bars in selected longitudinal positions in said channels.

2. In a bathtub seat having a seat member and relatively adjustable pivoted end members, that improvement which comprises a two-piece structure for said seat member, with each piece extending longitudinally and having a longitudinal channel at one edge and a longitudinal flange at the other edge, and with said flanges abutting and permanently secured together, and said end members having side bars slidable in said channels, and means being provided to secure said side bars in selected longitudinal positions in said channels, and said seat member having a flanged reenforcing metal plate of substantially U-shaped cross-section extending longitudinally thereof and permanently secured in spaced relation to the under side of said seat member and thereby substantially stifiening said seat member.

JAMES S. 'IRONIC.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,740,444 Downham et al Dec. 24, 1929 1,959,326 Anderson May 15, 1934 2,151,581 Bentz Mar. 21, 1939 2,175,271 Lethly Oct. 10, 1939 2,299,178 Reiter Oct. 20, 1942 2,412,404 Jackson Dec. 10, 1946 2,430,027 Morrison Nov. 4, 1947 

